oter
Audio available in app

Be mindful of the present moment from "summary" of The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius by Marcus Aurelius (Emperor of Rome)

When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly. They are like this because they can't tell good from evil. But I have seen the beauty of good, and the ugliness of evil, and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own. Not of the same blood or birth, but the same mind, possessing a share of the divine. And so none of them can hurt me. No one can implicate me in ugliness. Nor can I feel angry at my relative, or hate him. We were born to work together like feet, hands, and eyes, like the two rows of teeth, upper and lower. To obstruct each other is unnatural. To feel anger at someone, to turn your back on him: these are obstructions. That's why you must: Get rid of the judgment without having to get rid of the thought. The thought is, after all, an external thing, like a material object. Get rid of the judgment, and the thought becomes, for you, just what it is by being no more than a thought. Add this: Just as it is an absurdity to get rid of a thought without examining it, so it is to eliminate a judgment without looking at its grounds. But however you manage it, it must be done, if you're to reach the goal: to have the mind that's in a state of constant readiness for whatever may befall it. That's a divine power that will make sure you are, at each moment, what your nature demands. You need to avoid certain things in your train of thought: everything random, everything irrelevant, and certainly everything self-important or malicious. You need to get used to winnowing your thoughts, so that if someone says, 'What are you thinking about?' you can respond at once (and truthfully) that you are thinking this or that. And it would be obvious at once from your answer that your thoughts were straightforward and considerate ones, as befits a social being who lives in accord with nature. You must be like a rocky promontory against which the restless surf continually pounds. It stands fast while the churning sea is lulled to sleep at its feet. I hear you say, 'How unlucky that this should happen to me.' But not at all. Perhaps say instead, 'How lucky that
    Similar Posts
    Develop emotional regulation skills
    Develop emotional regulation skills
    Regulating your emotions is crucial for your mental health. When you develop emotional regulation skills, you are essentially l...
    Embrace virtue and wisdom
    Embrace virtue and wisdom
    Let your guiding principle be not to embrace virtue and wisdom only in words but in your actions. Display them in every aspect ...
    Practice mindfulness and presence
    Practice mindfulness and presence
    To practice mindfulness and presence means to be fully aware and engaged in the present moment, without judgment or distraction...
    Develop selfawareness
    Develop selfawareness
    To develop self-awareness means being mindful of your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations in the present moment. This inv...
    Mind is the master of circumstances
    Mind is the master of circumstances
    The idea that the mind is the master of circumstances is a powerful one. It suggests that our thoughts and beliefs have a direc...
    Supporting children in mindfulness practice can lead to a more peaceful and fulfilling life
    Supporting children in mindfulness practice can lead to a more peaceful and fulfilling life
    When children are introduced to mindfulness practices early on, they not only learn how to cultivate a sense of calm and focus,...
    It is important to recognize negative thought patterns
    It is important to recognize negative thought patterns
    Negative thought patterns are like weeds in the garden of our minds - they can quickly take over and choke out any positivity o...
    Harnessing the power of neuroplasticity for personal growth
    Harnessing the power of neuroplasticity for personal growth
    Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This means that ...
    Embrace change as a catalyst for growth
    Embrace change as a catalyst for growth
    Change is an inevitable part of life. It is a force that constantly pushes us out of our comfort zones and challenges us to gro...
    Start where you are
    Start where you are
    The concept of starting where you are is an invitation to be present with whatever is going on in our lives. It is an acknowled...
    oter

    The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

    Marcus Aurelius (Emperor of Rome)

    Open in app
    Now you can listen to your microbooks on-the-go. Download the Oter App on your mobile device and continue making progress towards your goals, no matter where you are.